It is legal to own a **monkey in a limited number of states**, such as Missouri, Arkansas, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Iowa, Texas, Alabama, and Delaware. A permit or a valid license must be obtained from the state wildlife agency or the Department of Natural Resources before owning a monkey, as certain requirements must be met before ownership is granted. Additional regulations may apply, depending on the species of the monkey, as some are considered exotic and rare.
Even in states where monkey ownership is not legal, individuals may be allowed to keep a pet monkey if it is rescued or seized from the wild.